Rolls-Royce launches LNG campaign in North America

Rolls-Royce is promoting its LNG propulsion solutions for ferries and other ships in North America

According to Rolls-Royce, “natural gas is the clear choice of fuel to power an energy-efficient, sustainable America.”

The company is launching a drive to promote its gas engines in the US, saying that use of natural gas as fuel significantly reduces fuel costs and cuts emissions to levels that comply with future environmental regulations.

Rolls-Royce says it is drawing on its proven track record of delivering marine gas propulsion systems and believes that investment in the technology nowwill yield significant financial and environmental dividends for the future.

The company says that its gas-fuelled engines offer cleanliness, high efficiency, long intervals between overhaul and a high degree of reliability. With the price of LNG forecast to fall, the potential long-term savings on fuel expenditure alone could be substantial. Citing the example of a typical double-ended ferry with 6,000 running hours annually, where 75% of the running hours are on 90% engine load (crossing) and 25% of the running hours on 25% load (approaching harbour, manoeuvring and hotel load during loading and unloading of cars, combined with slight propulsion against quay to avoid mooring). At estimated fuel prices for LNG of $700/t and MDO at $1,100/t, Rolls-Royce suggests that fuel cost savings of around 30% can be expected.